The Rami

Rummy – which can also be found in the form of Gin Rummy in Europe, is called Rummy in Anglo-Saxon countries. It is a combination card game, as opposed to bridge and belote, which are so-called lifting games. Rummy is played with family or friends even though its exposure on the internet is getting stronger every day. Played at a high level, Rummy requires certain qualities such as a sense of observation, logic and many others, making it as demanding a card game as poker.

Before you start…

While it is practiced indoors on weekends in some regions of France – a little like belote or bingo – Rummy is increasingly offered on the web in specialized rooms. To play rummy online, the user often needs to create an account and download software to his computer’s hard drive. The user can play for free or for money. Online gin rummy offers more possibilities than on land. In particular, users can discover innovative variations of rummy and meet players from different backgrounds.

The rules of the game

The goal of the game of Rummy is for players to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible by making as many winning combinations as possible. These combinations are exactly the same as in poker: three of a kind (3 cards of the same level), four of a kind (4 cards of the same level), sequence (3 consecutive cards of the same suit), etc. 

Winning combinations

The winning combinations are the same as in poker. However, the order of the cards differs from Texas Hold’em: Ace is the most powerful card in the game, followed by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Therefore, the figures represent weak cards in Rummy, with the Jack being stronger than the Queen and the King.

How it all goes?

In Rummy, the game begins when the dealer shuffles and deals the cards to the players. Depending on the number of participants, the players may receive between 6 and 10 cards. The remaining cards are placed in a face-down pile in the center of the game table. The first card in the stock is revealed: the “discard”. Players can then make several combinations, or even complete them.

To know

The game ends with a point count. The Ace is worth 11 points and the remaining cards keep their numerical value. The player with the least points wins the game. Note that the game can also end automatically when the stock is left empty.